IndyCar notebook: 'Absolutely no regrets' for Helio

Helio Castroneves reacts as he poses with the pole position trophy for the first IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix in Detroit, Saturday, May 31, 2014.
(Photo:
Bob Brodbeck / Associated Press
)

DETROIT – Helio Castroneves has a series of mind-easing photographs from last week's Indianapolis 500.

They show his car slightly behind Ryan Hunter-Reay's each time they crossed the yard of bricks in the final three laps.

That's proof the Brazilian should have no regrets in losing to Hunter-Reay, so he has no regrets.

"None," Castroneves said Saturday at IndyCar's first post-500 race, the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit. "People said I should have waited (to pass him), but even when I was passing him he was still getting to the finish line first.

"His car was better than mine. The best scenario was, I was going to finish second by a nose, and that's exactly what happened, so absolutely no regrets. It was his day."

Castroneves certainly has had many great days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to three wins and four poles, he's finished second twice, third and fourth. He's finished in the top five in seven of his 14 starts with 12 top-10 finishes.

Pole puts Helio 1 behind Mears

Castroneves was strong in Saturday's qualifying, too, winning the 39th pole of his career, one short of Rick Mears for fourth place all-time.

The only other drivers ahead of Castroneves on the pole chart are Mario Andretti (67), A.J. Foyt (53), Bobby Unser (49) and Mears (40).

Among active drivers, the closest to Castroneves is Team Penske teammate Will Power (33). Sebastien Bourdais has 31, Scott Dixon 20.

Castroneves will get a chance to tie Mears in Sunday's second qualifying session. But instead of the Firestone Fast Six knockout procedure used at most non-oval tracks, Sunday's starting lineup will be determined by two groups getting 15 minutes of track time each.

Family ties

IMS historian Donald Davidson has found a document that seems to confirm the participation of Beccy Hunter-Reay's great-grandfather in the 1914 Indianapolis 500.

Huntly Gordon is not listed in the 500's official box score, but he's listed as a driver of the No. 48 car that started 21st and finished 30th. S.F. Brock is noted as the primary driver, but Donaldson said it was the practice of the day to have multiple drivers.

The Indianapolis News listed "Gordon" as a driver, and Hunter-Reay has a photograph of her father's grandfather sitting in the car with another man. Coincidentally, the Mercer was entered by "Ray."

It's also interesting that Hunter-Reay's husband won the race 100 years later.

Another newspaper article provided by Hunter-Reay tells of Gordon's first race being a 447-mile event in Santa Monica, Calif., in 1913. He finished third while averaging 70 mph. Earl Cooper finished second with Barney Oldfield third.

Cooper finished second in the 1924 500 and won the pole in '26. Oldfield finished fifth in his two 500 starts ('14, '16).

Etc.

In Saturday's qualifying, Juan Pablo Montoya earned his first Fast Six berth in five tries, rookie Jack Hawksworth earned his third. (dots) James Hinchcliffe on what the promising Hawksworth has shown this year: "He has a much better accent than I do."